Unitary panel leg arrangement for office furniture

ABSTRACT

A unitary panel leg arrangement for office furniture comprising a pair of quadrilaterally shaped pans disposed in opposed relation which receive horizontally disposed parallel reinforcing members of channel form and a pair of vertically disposed leg mounting channels at the ends of the reinforcing members which are equipped with weld nuts and brackets for application thereto of screws to secure same to a table top and back panel, and to secure a leg to the respective vertical side edges of the panel leg arrangement. The reinforcing members comprise a central channel member of hat shaped section separating a pair of side members of wing flange channel section, with the latter being equipped with weld nuts to secure the panel leg arrangement to a back of gusset plate. The reinforcing and leg mounting members are welded to the pan that is to face inwardly of the furniture, while the reinforcing members are bonded to the outwardly facing pan by an epoxy resin to insure a flaw free surface for good aesthetic effect without requiring machining.

United States Patent eaver UNITARY PANEL LEG ARRANGEMENT FOR OFFICE FURNITURE [75] Inventor: Donald V. Beaver, Brookfield, Ill.

[73] Assignee: All-Steel Inc., Aurora, 111.

[22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 290,435

Related US. Application Data 3/1969 Schreyer ..312/l94 1/1971 Schreyer ..312/194 Primary Examiner--Paul R. Gilliam Artorney-Robert C. Brown, Jr. et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A unitary panel leg arrangement for office furniture comprising a pair of quadrilaterally shaped pans disposed in opposed relation which receive horizontally disposed parallel reinforcing members of channel form and a pair of vertically disposed leg mounting channels at the ends of the reinforcing members which are equipped with weld nuts and brackets for application thereto of screws to secure same to a table top and back panel, and to secure a leg to the respective vertical side edges of the panel leg arrangement. The reinforcing members comprise a central channel member of hat shaped section separating a pair of side members of wing flange channel section, with the latter being equipped with weld nuts to secure the panel leg arrangement to a back of gusset plate. The reinforcing and leg mounting members are welded to the pan that is to face inwardly of the furniture, while the reinforcing members are bonded to the outwardly facing pan by an epoxy resin to insure a flaw free surface for 7 good aesthetic effect without requiring machining.

4 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEC 18 I975 a sum 10? 4 PATENTED DEC 18 I975 SHEET 3 BF 4 UNITARY PANEL LEG ARRANGEMENT FOR OFFICE FURNITURE This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 80,835, filed Oct. l5, 1970 (now abandoned).

This invention relates to a unitary panel leg construction for office furniture and the like, and to a method of making same.

Officefurniture such as desks, tables, and' chairs are. frequently subject to stresses acting laterally of the length thereof tending to twist them out of line, make them walk across the floor, or both. The leverage that such forces act through-in connection with office furniture of standard heights results in distortion and displacement. of the furniture legs with the resulting weakening of an uneven support for the furniture. This is particularly a problem in contemporary stylefumiture wherein the'simplicity of design requires that reinforcement structures for the legs be minimized.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a unitary panel leg arrangement for office furniture and the like and a'method. of making same.v

Another principal object of the invention is to pro vide a unitary panel leg arrangement for office fumiture that may be employed as desired'with desks, tables and credenzas,,and the like, of various sizes and. heights and requires only a'sirnple backplate' origusset plateto secure it in operating relation with the'top. of thepiece of furniture involvedl,

Other objects of theinvention are to provide aleg arrangement for office furniture-thathassignificant resistance against twist and'walking, that involves simple structural elements that may' be readily secured together and in a manner which does. not leave weld marks or the like that wouldidi'stractfrom the aesthetics of the final product, that? is adapted fOl'f usage in a wide variety of furnitureconstructions', and that is economical of manufacture, convenient toapply, and long lived and multi-ultilitaria'n. in character.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the application drawings and the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a table arrangement in accordance with this invention and made up of a pair of the panel leg arrangements of this invention joined together by a back plate;

FIG. 2 illustrates amodification of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in which the back plate is replaced by a pair of gusset plates that secure the panel legs to the table p;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one of the panel legs of this invention, illustrating the left hand panel leg construction of FIG. 1*;

FIG. 3A is a fragmental exploded perspective view illustrating a detail of the connection of the individual legs into each panel leg construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inner pan of the panel arrangement and the parts that are affixed thereto by welding;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the subassembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom edge view of the panel employed in the panel leg construction, prior to application of the legs thereto;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and side edge views, respectively, of the panel of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a double pedestal desk arranged in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the basic desk components and framing elements embodied in the desk of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic fragmental perspective view illustrating a flush type back panel application in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a single pedestal desk provided with a right-hand L- extension or return in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental exploded perspective view illustrating the application of the L-return to the panel leg and desk top adjacent same; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the manner of securing the L-return flush back plate to the lower portion of the panel leg adjacent same.

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements of the Patent Code, and that the invention may have other specific embodiments which are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference numeral 10 of FIG. 1 generally indicates a table arranged in accordance with this invention and comprising a pair of panel legs 12 and 14, a back plate 16, and a table top 18 that is shown in phantom only.

The basic arrangement of the panel legs 12 and 14 is illustrated in the showing of FIG. 3 wherein it will be seen that each panel leg comprises inner and outer pans 20 and 22, reinforcing channel members or stiffeners 2'4, 26. and 28, vertically disposed mounting members 30 and 32, and legs 34 and 36.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates that the reinforcing channel members or stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, and the mounting members 30 and 32, will be fixed to and within the inner pan 20, as by spot welding the respective members 24, 26 and 28 where indicated at 38 in FIG. 4, and by spot welding the respective mounting members 30 and 32 where indicated at 40 in FIG. 4, to form a subassembly 41. The mounting members each carry an angle bracket 42 that is adapted to be secured to the table top 18, and an angle bracket 44 that is adapted to be secured to the angle bracket 46 of the respective legs 34 and 36.

The outer pan 22 is bonded to the subassembly 41 to form a panel construction 48, in accordance with this invention, by employing a suitable adhesive in a relatively narrow band between the respective members 24, 26 and 28 and the pan 22. One suitable adhesive is the two-part room temperature curing adhesive EC-2l58 made by 3M Company, and it is preferred that the bonding band between the parts indicated be about 1 inch wide and 5 10 one thousandth inch in thickness.

As indicated in the drawings, the pans in panel 48 are spaced from each other about the margin of the panel, but are welded together at spaced points thereabout as at 51 (as by employing TIG welding).

The panel construction 48 after completion has secured thereto the legs 34 and 36, to form the basic panel leg arrangement, by employing the screws 50 and 52 to make the appropriate connection between the respective legs 34 and 36 and the respective mounting members 30 and 32.

The panel leg 14 is made in a similar manner, and the two panel legs 12 and 14 are connected together by back plate 16 employing suitable screws 56 and 58 to secure the respective ends of the back plate 16 to the respective panel legs.

The panel legs 12 and 14 and back plate 16 are then secured to the table top 18 by employing appropriate screws 60 to secure the back plate to the table top, and screws 62 to secure the brackets 42 of the panel legs to the table top 18. It will be noted that the screws 56, 58 and 60 at each end of the table provide a simple but effective three point connection between the panel leg, back plate and table top.

In the embodiment A of FIG. 2, the back plate 16 is omitted in favor of a pair of gusset plates 70, with the respective screws 56, 58 and 60 making the same sort of three point connection between the panel legs, gusset plates and table top at each end of the table.

The resulting structure provided by tables 10 and 10A provides a rigid basic furniture foundation framework that may be used as illustrated or augmented by the application thereto of standardized furniture forming components to achieve different types of furniture selections, as suggested hereinafter.

It is to be understood that the tables 10 and 10A that are illustrated are merely examples of the various types of furniture that can be constructed employing the panel legs 12 and/or 14, the back plate 16 or the gusset plates 70, and a suitable top that may be of any conventional construction. For instance, a double pedestal desk 51 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) may be formed by employing panel legs 12 and 14 at either end of the piece of furniture, with a desk pedestal 53 of the type shown in Abrahamson Patent 3,125,387 also at either end of the piece of furniture and secured to the respective panel legs, and desk top 18A, which may be of the general type shown in Grube U.S. Pat. No. 2,91 1,274, channels 55 and 57 of the type shown in Abrahamson U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,387, being applied to the undersurface of the top 18A for securing the pedestals (and a center drawer assembly, if so desired) to the desk top. A back plate 16A that is generally similar to that of FIG. 1 and secured in overlying relation to the pedestals 53 may be employed to complete the desk.

Similarly, panel legs 12 and 14 in shortened form transversely of the table 18 may be employed together with a back plate 16, or a pair of gusset plates 70 in association with a suitable credenza top as the top 18, to provide a credenza construction.

The basic panel leg construction provided by this invention insures that the two legs are securely connected together to act in unison, and that when the panel leg unit is mounted in place, its legs will remain fixed with respect to same. The legs are held firmly against both twisting tendencies and walking tendenones.

The strength of the resulting construction appears to be due to the fact that the pans 20 and 22 are so fastened in place that the strength of the sheets forming the pans becomes available to resist torsional stresses and thus become structural members arranged to act as stressed skins to provide twisting strength to the panel. Furthermore, since the reinforcing and mounting members are welded only to the inner pan 20, the outer pan 22 is free from welding deformations and thus provides an aesthetically attractive outwardly facing surface for the panel leg without having to machine pan 22.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The pans 20 and 22 are of substantially identical constructions, each being of the dished shape that is indicated. Pan 20 comprises planar wall of generally quadrilateral configuration (rectangular in the illustrated embodiment) and including about its edges the respective top and bottom walls 82 and 84 and the respective side walls 86 and 88. The wall 80 of the inner panel 20 is formed with spaced openings 90 and 92 (see FIG. 4) to receive the respective brackets 42, and spaced openings 94 and 96 to receive the respective mounting screws 56.

The pan 22 similarly comprises wall 100 that has formed about its side edges the top and bottom walls 102 and 104, and side walls 106 and 108. The side walls 86 and 88, 106 and 108 of the respective panels 20 and 22 are notched as at 110 and 1 12 to receive the respective screws 50.

The reinforcing channel members or stiffeners 24, 26 and 28 preferably have the channel-shaped crosssectional configurations indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6 wherein it will be noted that the central member 26 is of hat shaped dual external wing flange cross-sectional configuration while the members 24 and 28 are of single external wing flange cross-sectional configuration. Thus, it will be seen that member 24 comprises a web separating the side walls 122 and 124, with the side wall 122 being formed with wing flange 126 projecting externally of member 24 and side wall 124 being formed with regular flange 128 that projects internally of member 24.

Similarly, the member 28 comprises web 130 separating side walls 132 and 134, with the side wall 132 being formed with a external wing flange 136 and side wall 134 being formed with regular or internal flange 138.

Member 26 comprises web 140 separating side walls 142 and 144 each including an external wing flange 146 and 148, respectively.

Prior to application to pan 20, member 24 has applied thereto, as by welding at 151 (see FIG. 4) weld nuts 153 that have their respective threaded openings 155 aligned with suitable holes 157 formed in the flange 128. Similarly, member 28 has applied thereto, as by welding at 159, weld nuts 161 that have their respective threaded openings 163 aligned with suitable holes 165 formed in wall 134.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the members 24 and 28 are fixed to the wall 80 of pan 20 by having their wing flanges 126 and 136 spot welded thereto where indicated at 38. The member 26 is affixed to pan 20 by having its wing flanges 146 and 148 spot welded thereto where indicated at 38. As further indicated by FIG. 4, the members 24, 26 and 28 are disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and extend short of the side walls of the respective pans 20 and 22 to provide a space 149 to permit the respective members 30 and 32 to be received between the respective pan side walls and the adjacent ends of the respective members 24, 26 and 28.

As indicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the mounting members 30 and 32 are of similar right and left hand construction, and each comprise a web 150 separating side walls 152 and 154, with the respective side walls 152 and 154 being flanged as indicated at 156 and 158. The

respective angle brackets 42 are applied to the upper .ends of the members 30 and 32, as by being welded thereto in any suitable manner. Each bracket 42 comprises angled portions 160 and 162, with the respective portions 160 being affixed in place to the respective webs 150 as by welding, and the respective portions 162 being formed with a suitable opening 164 to receive a mounting screw 62.

The respective members 30 and 32 have affixed thereto at their lower ends the respective angle brackets 44, each of which comprises angled portions 170 and- 172, with the respective angle portions 170 being affixed to the respective web portions 150 of the respectivemembers 30 and 32 as by welding. The angle portion 172 on each bracket 44 is formed with a pair of threaded screw receiving openings 174 (see FIG. 5) that receive the respective screws 52. (Alternately weld nuts similar to weld nuts 153 and 161 may be here employed.)

The side walls 154 of the mounting members 30 and 32 each have affixed thereto a weld nut 167 with its threaded opening 171 in alignment with suitable screw receiving openings 169 formed in the respective walls 154, which in turn are to be aligned with the recesses 110 and 112 of the pans when members 30 are mounted in position. The lower side walls 84 and 104 of pans are notched in a manner similar to notches 110 and l 12 to accommodate the screws 52 and 58, as indicated at 179 and 180 in FIG. 3. Members 30 and 32 are spot welded to pan as by having their webs spot welded thereto as at 40.

As already indicated, pan 22 is secured to pan 20 by adhering same to stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, and this is done by applying the indicated adhesive along the webs 120, 130 and 140 of these members where indicated at 182 inFIG. 6, and then pressing pan 22 thereagainst to complete panel 48. As true flatness of panel 48 is an essential of this invention, the subassembly 41 and pan 22 are preferably applied to a suitable press for compressing them together under suitable compressive forces. In a commercial embodiment of the invention this is done in a platen press, and the room temperature cure adhesive EC-2l58 is employed, which requires the thus assembled parts of panel 48 to be held under pressure from about 6 to about 8 hours.

Legs 34 and 36 are more or less conventional in nature, they being formed from tubing of square crosssectional configuration and being provided with a suitable adjustable foot 190 at their lower ends. Legs 34 and 36 thus each define planar side walls 192, 194 and 19 6 and 198, and in the present arrangement, the wall 198 is formed with a key hole slot 200 having its larger portion 202 proportioned to pass the head 203 of the respective screws 50, while the narrow portion 204 of the slot 202 has a width sufficient to freely pass the shank 205 of the respective screws 50 while retaining .the respective screw heads 203.

Altemately, a slot extending from the upper ends of the respective leg sides 198 longitudinally of the respective legs to the location of slot portion 204 and having the width of slot portion 204, may be employed for the same purpose.

Legs 34 and 36 below the key hole slot 202 have applied thereto the respective brackets 46 each comprisinga leg clip 209 formed with right angled flange 211 (see FIG. 3A) that fits into slot 213 of the respective legs and an opening 210 to receive the screw 52 at each end of the respective panel legs 12 and 14.

After the members 24, 26, 28, and 32 have been affixed to the pan 20 of the respective panel legs 12 and 14, and the pan 22 has in turn been affixed to the respective reinforcing members 24, 26 and 28 in the manner indicated, the legs 34 and 36 are applied to the respective panels 48 (to form the panel legs 12 and 14) by mounting the brackets 46 in place on each leg (as by inserting flange 211 thereof' into the leg slot 213 and pivoting same to bring flange 211 against wall 193) and applying the respective screws 50 to the respective panel weld nuts 167; the screws 50 are turned into place sufficiently so that when their heads 203 are passed through the wide portions 202 of the respective key hole slots 200, where slots 200 are used, they will engage the inside surfaces of the respective leg walls 198 if the leg is moved to dispose the screw shanks 205 in the narrow portions 204 of slots 200. It is then merely necessary to move the respective legs 34 and 36 upwardly of the respective panel legs 12 and 14 to dispose the screw shank 205 in the leg slot narrow portion 204, and to bring the bracket arm of bracket 46 having the hole 210 formedtherein against the panel leg bottom walls 84 and 104, after which the respective screws 52 are applied through the respective holes 210 and into the aligned holes 174 of the respective brackets 44 to secure the respective legs 34 and 36 to the respective panel legs 12 and 14. The proportioning of parts is preferably such that this brings the tops of the legs 34 and 36 in alignment with the top walls 82 and 102 of the respective pans 20 and 22, and disposes the leg side walls 198 in firm engagement with the pan walls 86, 106 and 88, 108, respectively. Shoulders 215 of clips 209 lock against the wall 198 of the respective legs to provide a light stable attachment, with flange 211 locking against the inside of wall 198.

The extra opening 174 of brackets 44 may be employed to anchor a back plate 16 or other office fumiture components to the respective panel legs 12 and 14 (see FIGS. 12 and 15).

Prior to the application of legs 34 and 36 to the respective panel legs, the panel legs may be painted and run through a conventional paint bake cycle for aesthetic purposes. It will be noted that the outwardly facing surface of the respective pans 22 presents a good surface for painting without having to machine same to obtain an unmarred surface.

The back plate 16 is more or less conventional in nature and comprises a rectilinear wall 220 bounded by upper wall 222, side walls 224 and 226, and bottom wall 228. Top wall 222 is formed with appropriate openings 230 to receive the respective screws 60 that secure the back plate to the taple top or the like, while the side walls 226 are fonned with suitable openings 231 to receive the respective screws 56 that are applied to the weld nuts 153 of the respective panel legs 12 and 14 that are employed to mount the back plate in place. As indicated in FIG. 1, the weld nuts 153 of the respective panel legs 12 and 14 are disposed in opposed pair relation to provide an opposed pair of nuts at either side of the table as viewed in FIG. 1. The back plate 16 may be secured to either of these opposed pairs.

The gusset plates in the form of FIG. 2 each comprise a triangular shaped plate construction including upright wall 240, top wall 242 and side wall 244, with the top wall 242 and the side wall 244 being joined by diagonal wall 246. Top wall 242 is formed with opening 230 to receive the screw 60 that is to secure gusset plate 70 to the table top, while the side wall 244 is formed with opening 231 to receive the screw 56 that cooperates with a selected weld nut 153.

Back plate 16 has affixed to its wall 228 a mounting plate 235 (see FIG. 6) formed with a suitable hole 237 to receive the screw 58 that is applied to a selected weld nut 161. Gusset plate 70 is formed with a similar plate 235A that is angled for application to the diagonal wall 246, as indicated in FIG. 2.

It is preferred from the standpoint of strength, fabrication of flat panels, rigidity and impact resistance, that the pans 20 and 22 and stiffeners 24, 26 and 28 be formed from 22 gauge steel sheeting, and that the mounting members 30 and 32 be formed from 16 gauge steel.

As it is considered critical that the respective panel leg units be as flat as possible, it is preferred that after the respective pans 20 have been applied to the subassemblies 41, the resulting panel assembly be applied to a suitable platen press for application thereto of compressive force for the period of cure required by the adhesive employed. Where the indicated adhesive EC-2l5 8 is employed, a 6 to 8 hour cure at room temperature is required, and during this cure the panels should remain under a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 10 pounds per square inch (but the application of heat will shorten the cure time proportionately).

Altemately, where a high temperature cure is desired, adhesive EC-22l4, made by 3M Company, is preferred, with the respective panels being applied to a heated platen press under pressure conditions of approximately 1 to 10 pounds per square inch for one minute at 400 F.

It will be apparent that panel legs 12 and 14 are interchangeable, and that the back plate 16 or gusset plates 70, may be applied to either opposed set of weld nuts 153 and 161. Furniture made employing the panel legs and back plates of this invention may be varied as to height, length, and width by varying the dimensions of the panel legs, back plates, and legs 34 and 36 as de sired.

It will be seen that panel legs 12 and 14 in effect provide a pair of rigid chassis forming structures that servev as the foundation for selectively forming furniture units by securing thereto or suspending therefrom basic furniture components or subassemblies, such as desk and- /or bookcase pedestals, back plates, table tops, L- returns (full height or drop height), and file cabinets, by suitably connecting same employing the screw and nut type connections that have been described, and as indicated more specifically in FIGS. 10 15. The panel legs as connected together by a back plate and top of their equivalents serve as the main load resisting structures of the resulting unit, and provide the purchase for securing in place the furniture components or subassemblies that are desired.

FIGS. 10 l5 illustrate examples of several different office furniture units which include the basic panel leg arrangement of this invention, and are made up from selected standardized and matched components that are arranged to provide maximum flexibility and versatility in the selections permitted, in accordance with the general thesis of said Abrahamson patent.

In the double pedestal desk 51 of FIG. 10, the basic components involved are the panel legs 12 and 14, a desk top 18A, pedestals 53 at the left and right hand sides of the desk, a set of front and rear mounting channels 55 and 57 (see FIG. 1 1) that are secured to the top 18A by suitable screws (not shown), and to which the forward and rearward ends of the respective pedestals 53 are secured by suitable fasteners such as the swing nut" fasteners 59 that are shown at 142 in said Abrahamson patent, and a back plate 16A that is secured between the panel legs 12 and 14 and in overlying relation to the pedestals at the rear of the desk.

Operably associated with the specific desk 51 that is illustrated, is a standardized lock filler device or unit 63 of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,937 of Bruce 0. Buhrmaster and John P. Ericson, granted July 28, 1970, comprising a filler channel or panel 65 provided with a lock indicated at 67 which operates a slide bar 69 that is operably associated with the pedestal drawer locking devices indicated at 71 to simultaneously lock or unlock the drawers 73 that are part of one of the pedestals 53, and the drawers 75 that are part of the other pedestal 53.

In the specific office furniture unit illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pedestals are notched or recessed across their tops where indicated at 241 and 243 to receive the mounting channels 55 and 57 so that the tops of the pedestals will be substantially flush with the bottom of desk top 18A and with the notches or recesses 241 having a configuration complementing the undersurface of the lock device filler panel member 77, the intention being that when the office furniture unit 51 is assembled, the filler panel member 77 will be resting on the principal surfaces defining the notches or grooves 241, and the upper flange 79 of the filler panel member will be disposed in substantial juxtaposition with the office unit top. It will thus be seen, therefore, that the grooves or notches 241 of the respective pedestals 53 each comprise an upper abutment surface portion 245 against which the attachment flange portion 81 of filler panel 77 rests, and a lower abutment surface portion 247 against which the lower flange portion 83 of filler panel 77 rests.

In the assembled relation, the forward mounting channel 55 rests on top of the mounting flange 81 of filler panel 77. As indicated, the mounting channels 55 and 57 are secured to the respective pedestals by fasteners of the type shown in said Abrahamson patent in which the threaded member associated with same passes through suitable openings 249 formed in the respective pedestals as well as suitable openings 251 formed in the mounting flange 81 of the filler panel member. Openings 251 are suitably spaced lengthwise of the lock filler device 63 to provide the desired selectivity of attaching same to the office furniture unit. Said U.S. Pat. No. 3,521 ,937 may be referred to for further details concerning lock device 63 and its manner of association with drawing locking arrangements 71.

As part of the assembly operation of desk 51 in accordance with this invention, the angle brackets 42 of the respective panel legs 12 and 14 are received within the ends of the respective channel members 55 and 57, and are secured to the desk top 18A by suitable screws 62 that pass through appropriately located holes in the respective members 55 and 57. As indicated in FIG. 4, the angle brackets 42 are associated with the respective panel legs 12 and 14 such that their portions 162 are disposed sufficiently below the top walls 82'ofthe panel Y respectivepanel legs 12 and 14 by employing therespective angle brackets 264-which are secured to the lower corner portions of the pedestal by suitable screws 266; the angled arm 268-of the respective angle brackets is secured tothe respective openings 174 of the respective panel legs by asuitable screw 270, which openings174 may be either threaded or equipped with atweld nut'(as already. indicated): This connection to the pedestals is the same atthe front corners-260 and rear corners 26'2Iatboth ends of the desk.

The back plate16A is flush mounted with vrespectto the ends of the panel legs', as distinguished from the recess mount; The back plate 16A includes an upper flange 261secured to'the pedestals in any suitable manner, and thatis securedt'to rearchannel 157 atLthe midlength'of the desk by-theclip 286'andvassociated screw devices 59 and a288 that'iare indicatedin FIGS; 12*and 14; flange 261 fitsinvsloti 263 of the respective. pedestals..Back plate16A= also-includes lower: flange 261A that engages under the-rear-ofthe respective pedestals and at' its ends is anchored:to the panel legs-1:2and 14 by" being interposed between the brackets 264 and the respective pedestals: at? the pedestal-comers 262.

In the showing; of FIG.. 12, y a table: 18B-of= the flush backtpanel mount'type'is illustrated; with the showing being of one cornertof'the table in invertedposition; Panel leg12 has its-.anglebracket 42'v disposed within the adjacent*end'280of mounting channel282rthat' issimilar'to the channels 55' and'57 and is affixed: to top 1'8B'by suitable screws (not shown) applied to selected channel holes- 284 (bracket 42'al'so being fixed to top 188 by, a. suitable screw): Theback. plate 168 has its upper flange 222Btsecured to thechannel 282 .by a suit.-

able clip 286 that' is secured to'the flange. 222B'by a suitablescrew 288 and tochannel 282 byva swing nut type fastener 59. The lower flange 2288' of. the-back1 plate has an angle bracket 290 affixed thereto by suitable screws292, with angle bracket 290sbeing-formed with a downwardly.indentedanm294fi thatrests against:

the underside of'panelleg12walls 84in alignment with the adjacent opening 174 ofthepanel leg to receive suitable screw 296 to fix the back plate 1=16B in braced relation with: thepanel legiThe. other endiof'. the back.

plate is secured tothe other panel leg: not shown), in.

a similar manner.

Intheshowingof FIGSL 13,,1'4and 1'5,.single pedestal:

desk 300 is arranged in: the manner described in connection with the showing of FIGS". 10 and 1:] except that the left hand pedestal 53A. is of the two drawer typenand right hand pedestal isomitted,as:suggested in. the description'pertainingtothese-figures; The L return 302 comprises apanel leg 14C secured to a: top 18C and flush mount back. plate 16C in. the manner suggested by FIG. 12 (see FIG. 14), with pedestal 304 tion 308 formed with holes 310 adapted to receive suitable screws 312 which in turn ,are received in the respective arms 314 of angle clips 316 that are secured to the respective channel members 55A and 57A of the L return 302.

The back panell6C of the return L is anchored to the panel leg 14 by the arrangement indicated in FIG. 15., in which a mounting bracket 320 secured to flange 228C of the back plate 16C by suitable screws 322 is formed to include an arm 324, ,whichincludes a lateral extension orstrap portion 326 formed to receive a suitable screwt328 that is applied to the adjacent opening 174 of panel leg 14.

With respect'tothe individual panel legs, while the securementof pan=22. to pan -20'by the hereindisclosed adhesive method is preferred; wherethe outside appearance-of. pan'22zisnot important,pan-22 may be spot-welded to stiffeners 24, 26 and 28', but'this should bedone-while. holding pan 22 compressed'against assembly 48- to achieve the necessary flatness. Likewise, the connection betweenlpans 20and 22 and members 24; .26 and 28 may be entirely by way of the, adhesive connection-described inconnection with pan 22 where spot, welding is-to be avoided.

Itwillthus be seen-thatthe-invention provides, in addition to the specific features herein disclosed, a basic way v of constructingoffice furniture in which a foundation frameworkonchassis .is provided that comprises a rigid top structure and apair of'torsion resisting, or torsionallyrigid; panel leg structures-supporting either end ofthe topstructure that are connected by tie plate means-whichzmaytbe relativelynon-rigid in nature from a:torsional standpoint. The arrangement is such that these basic partsofthisfoundation framework or chassis are secured together ina; simple, but effective manner that comprises employing a-pair of screws and cooperatingbrackets for eachpanelleg for securing the respective'panel' legs tov either end. of the top, and a backpanel (of either. the flush or the recessed type.) or a pair of angle brackets or gussetplates that make a three point screw. type connection between the respective panellegs-wand thetop-in eitherv end of the top for securing: the" panel legsagainstahinging action relative touthe top under forces tending to move the-framework endwise of same. Thisbasic foundation framework or chassisrhay beusedas such, oraugmented by the applicationato same of standardized; furniture forming componentsof: the typehereindisclosed to provide the various types: of ofiice: equipment herein referred to. The result is: that the, construction of ofiice furniture is reducedtoa minimum number of components that are secured together in asimplebut effective manner that permits awide area ofchoice as to what the end productmay be, but starting from abasic foundation framework or-= chassis thatiscommon to all the furniture units soconstructed.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely. to: explain and illustrate the invention and the extend normally of the top ends, said panel leg arrangement comprising:

a panel member of generally quadrilateral configuration defining upper and lower side portions and oppositely disposed end portions at either end of said panel member, said panel member comprising:

a pair of inner and outer dished pans of generally quadrilateral configuration disposed in opposed relation and comprising planar sheets each bound by a circumambient rim at right angles to the respective sheets, with said rims being in opposed coplanar relation,

said pans receiving within said rims thereof rectilinear structural reinforcing channel members of substantially equal lengths and extending parallel to said upper and lower side portions of said panel member and in the plane of said panel leg arrangement,

said reinforcing members having extended flat areas in face-to-face relation with said sheets and made fast thereto for making said pan sheets resistant to torsion, and having their ends disposed short of said end portions of said panel members,

a rigid mounting member received in the space between the respective reinforcing member ends and the respective end portions of said panel member, and made fast to said inner pan sheet,

said mounting members each including a bracket fixed to the upper ends thereof and formed to receive screw means for securing said panel leg arrangement to the office furniture top,

a bracket at each of and afiixed to the respective lower ends of said mounting members,

a rectilinear leg positioned adjacent each of said end portions of said panel member in the plane thereof and secured to the respective mounting member lower end brackets,

nut means carried by said mounting members at the respective end portions of said panel member and adjacent said upper ends of said mounting members,

and screw means cooperating between the respective legs and nut means to secure the respective legs to the respective mounting members at a second point of connection to said panel member,

said reinforcing members comprising:

a central channel member defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet and a web affixed to said outer pan sheet,

an upper channel member on one side of said central channel member and mounted to dispose one side LII of same in close adjacency to the portions of said pan rims lying along said panel member upper said portion, and defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet, a web affixed to said outer pan sheet, and spaced side flanges connecting said upper channel member web to the respective wing flanges thereof,

a lower channel member on the other side of said central channel member and mounted to dispose one side of same in close adjacency to the portions of said pan rims lying along said panel member lower side portions, and defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet, a web affixed to said outer pan sheet, and spaced side flanges connecting said lower channel member web to the respective wing flanges thereof,

said web and said wing flanges of said members defining said extended flat areas,

said upper and lower reinforcing members having nut means affixed thereto for securing the office fumiture back panel thereto,

whereby said pan sheets serve as structural members in said arrangement to provide strength against twisting of said legs out of the plane of said panel member.

2. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said wing flanges of said reinforcing members are made fast to said sheet of said inner pan by being welded thereto,

and said webs of said reinforcing members are made fast to said sheet of said outer pan by being bonded thereto by an adhesive,

whereby said outer pan sheet presents an outwardly facing surface free of weld marks for good painting appearance.

3. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said pan rims are in spaced apart relation,

said rims being joined by being welded together at spaced points thereabout.

4. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said nut means of said upper and lower reinforcing members comprise nut means similarly located thereon relative to both said ends of said upper and lower reinforcing members for making said panel member adapted for application to either end of the furniture top. 

1. A unitary panel leg arrangement for use as a torsion resisting end support for office furniture desks and the like which include a top and back panel that is to extend normally of the top ends, said panel leg arrangement comprising: a panel member of generally quadrilateral configuration defining upper and lower side portions and oppositely disposed end portions at either end of said panel member, said panel member comprising: a pair of inner and outer dished pans of generally quadrilateral configuration disposed in opposed relation and comprising planar sheets each bound by a circumambient rim at right angles to the respective sheets, with said rims being in opposed coplanar relation, said pans receiving within said rims thereof rectilinear structural reinforcing channel members of substantially equal lengths and extending parallel to said upper and lower side portions of said panel member and in the plane of said panel leg arrangement, said reinforcing members having extended flat areas in face-toface relation with said sheets and made fast thereto for making said pan sheets resistant to torsion, and having their ends disposed short of said end portions of said panel members, a rigid mounting member received in the space between the respective reinforcing member ends and the respective end portions of said panel member, and made fast to said inner pan sheet, said mounting members each including a bracket fixed to the upper ends thereof and formed to receive screw means for securing said panel leg arrangement to the office furniture top, a bracket at each of and affixed to the respective lower ends of said mounting members, a rectilinear leg positioned adjacent each of said end portions of said panel member in the plane thereof and secured to the respective mounting member lower end brackets, nut means carried by said mounting members at the respective end portions of said panel member and adjacent said upper ends of said mounting members, and screw means cooperating between the respective legs and nut means to secure the respective legs to the respective mounting members at a second point of connection to said panel member, said reinforcing members comprising: a central channel member defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet and a web affixed to said outer pan sheet, an upper channel member on one side of said central channel member and mounted to dispose one side of same in close adjacency to the portions of said pan rims lying along said panel member upper said portion, and defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet, a web affixed to said outer pan sheet, and spaced side flanges connecting said upper channel member web to the respective wing flanges thereof, a lower channel member on the other side of said central channel member and mounted to dispose one side of same in close adjacency to the portions of said pan rims lying along said panel member lower side portions, and defining coplanar wing flanges affixed to said inner pan sheet, a web affixed to said outer pan sheet, and spaced side flanges connecting said lower channel member web to the respective wing flanges thereof, said web and said wing flanges of said members defining said extended flat areas, said upper and lower reinforcing members having nut means affixed thereto for securing the office furniture back panel thereto, whereby said pan sheets serve as structural members in said arrangement to provide strength against twisting of said legs out of the plane of said panel member.
 2. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein: said wing flanges of said reinforcing members are made fast to said sheet of said inner pan by being welded thereto, and said webs of said reinforcing members are made fast to said sheet of said outer pan by being bonded thereto by an adhesive, whereby said outer pan sheet presents an outwardly facing surface free of weld marks for Good painting appearance.
 3. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein: said pan rims are in spaced apart relation, said rims being joined by being welded together at spaced points thereabout.
 4. The panel leg arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein: said nut means of said upper and lower reinforcing members comprise nut means similarly located thereon relative to both said ends of said upper and lower reinforcing members for making said panel member adapted for application to either end of the furniture top. 